WACO, Texas – The Reining and Equitation Over Fences corps put together two big showings in the second half to help the No. 1 Auburn equestrian team advance to the NCEA Championship Semifinals, The squad topped No. 8 TCU, 12-4, in the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas.
Locked at 4-4 after Equitation on the Flat and Horsemanship, Reining and Fences came away with a pair of 4-0 victories to help Auburn improve to 16-0 overall.
"We had uncharacteristic start for a team that hasn't lost this year," head coach Greg Williams said. "The team regrouped and came back like the team we've been all year. We're looking forward to the next challenge."
The Tigers will now face No. 4 Oklahoma State in the semifinal later this afternoon.
The Auburn Hunter Seat contingent finished 7-1 in the meet, starting with a 3-1 win in Flat. Seniors Hayley Iannotti and Caitlin Boyle picked up a pair of wins, scoring a 233 and a 242, respectively. Sophomore Taylor St. Jacques capped the event with a 241-215 victory over TCU's Isabella Baxter.
The Fences corps swept the Horned Frogs, 4-0. Boyle improved to 2-0 on the day with a huge score of 254 in her win. St. Jacques followed with a 246-229 victory over Raegan Rast before freshman Emma Kurtz put together a 242-228 win. Freshman McKayla Langmeier closed out the event with a meet-best 258 in her victory.
Reining picked up big wins to sweep TCU, 4-0. Senior Betsy Brown opened with a big score of 210 and bested Elena Hurd's 196.5. Senior Ali Fratessa followed with a 209-190.5 victory and sophomore Deanna Green sealed the team win with Auburn's ninth point, 203-0. Senior Blair McFarlin closed things out with another huge score, earning a 211 for the victory.
Sophomore Taylor Searles earned a point for the Tigers in Horsemanship, besting Josie Mootz, 224.5-221. The win extended the Scottsdale, Ariz., product's unbeaten streak to 13.
#1 AUBURN 12, #8 TCU 4
Equitation Over Fences
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Isabella Baxter (TCU), 254-242
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Raegan Rast (TCU), 246-229
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Alex Beneson (TCU), 242-228
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Wynne Weatherly (TCU), 258-242
Equitation on the Flat
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Jacey Albaugh (TCU), 233-207
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Alex Beneson (TCU), 242-221
Wynne Weatherly (TCU) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 230-223
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Isabella Baxter (TCU), 241-215
Horsemanship
Jamie Cook (TCU) def. Kelsey Jung (AU), 218.5-204.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Josie Mootz (TCU), 224.5-221
Natalia DeVencenty (TCU) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 225-222.5
Cydney Benes (TCU) def. Deanna Green (AU), 211-178.5
Reining
Betsy Brown (AU) def. Elena Hurd (TCU), 210-196.5
Ali Fratessa (AU) def. Claire Dittrich (TCU), 209-190.5
Deanna Green (AU) def. Jamie Cook (TCU), 203-0
Blair McFarlin (AU) def. Carly Lombard (TCU), 211-205